EDA starts helo instructor course

BRUSSELS, April 9 (UPI) -- The European Defense Agency has developed a train-the-trainer helicopter instructor course to aid pan-European harmonization and interoperability.

The system, called the European Helicopter Tactics Instructors Course, was created with help from the British military's Rotary Wing Operational Evaluation and Training Unit and the Swedish Armed Forces.

"The first EHTIC started on 8 April, 2013 at RAF Linton and it is executed in two parts," the agency said. "The first part consists of a two weeks ground phase of classroom theory and a one week simulator phase to be conducted in the EDA purpose-built facility in RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

"The second part will be a flying phase with the duration of three weeks, conducted at FMV Test Range, Vidsel, Sweden."

EDA said 13 instructor-pilots from Germany and Sweden are undergoing standardized theoretical, synthetic and practical training.

Observers from the militaries of Austria, Hungary, Estonia and the United States will be present during the course, the agency said.

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